An NGO here has filed a civil defamation suit against yoga guru Baba Ramdev, seeking damages of Rs 1,000 crore, for making an anti-Dalit remark while taking a dig at the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

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An NGO here has filed a civil defamation suit against yoga guru Baba Ramdev, seeking damages of Rs 1,000 crore, for making an anti-Dalit remark while taking a dig at the Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The yoga guru landed in a controversy last month when he said that Rahul visits Dalit houses for "picnic and honeymoon".

"Ramdev has made defamatory remarks about the Dalit community and particularly the Dalit women," the application filed by Ratna Vora, president of the NGO Ambedkar Karvaan, before the civil court here says.

Justifying the demand of Rs 1,000 crore, it says, "Ramdev's remarks were defamatory for the entire Dalit community. As there are approximately 28 crore Dalits in this country as per the census, Ramdev must be made accountable to pay the damages to the entire community." Vora said the amount would be used for the welfare of the entire Dalit community in the country.

Ramdev, who has declared support to the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, said at a rally in Lucknow on April 25 that Rahul Gandhi goes to Dalit houses for "honeymoon and picnic". "Had he married a Dalit girl, then his luck could have clicked and he would have become the Prime Minister," he said.

He later regretted his remarks and said they were misconstrued.

Two criminal complaints (FIRs) are already filed here against the yoga guru under the Prevention of Atrocities Act over his statement.